Most common 1998 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of the 178 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Avalon complaints by model year
Best Avalon years: 2017, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998. Compare all years →
1998 Toyota Avalon recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles, Mini vans and passenger vehicles equipped with a theft deterrent systems (tds) supplied by audiovox corporation and distributed by southeast Toyota distributors, inc. In the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code label on the security system harness and any displaying the manufacturing/final date code will be replaced with newly produced harnesses.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Toyota Avalon:
Engine seizure
What 1998 Toyota Avalon owners say
A/C & heater all 25 →
At 49,000 miles, the entire air conditioning system failed. Both the compressor and the condensor have leaks and the whole system must be replaced. Toyota has failed to offer any goodwill assistance for this repair which costs in excess of $ 1200.00 simply claiming "its out of warranty." all this is a "luxury, flagship" vehicle. Don't buy this car! Toyota customer service stinks!! They are alot of talk about reputation but they fail to live up to their promises!! I am very dissatisfied with this car! Additionally, my mechanic has told me that he has several avalons with this same problem which he will be repairing. Toyota fails to accept it is a manufacturing defect in their air conditioning parts!
Intermittent operation of automatic climate control system. No air conditioning, heater or fan operation. Complete shutdown of system. Will sometimes work after the car is turned off and restarted. This becomes very serious because front windshield will not defog. Toyota released a technical service bulletin on dec. 3, 1999. Bulletin ac005-99 they knew that the system had a flaw so they redesigned and updated the (ECU) A/C amplifier. Its the brain for the complete heating and A/C system. I plead my case with the dealer and they said that they called Toyota and Toyota refused my request to have the parts and labor covered because of a bad design.
Electrical system
On or about September 19, 2005. I pulled into a parking spot aside of a shoe shop and applied my brake to stop. The 1998 Toyota Avalon which I was driving refused to stop and continued on into the side of the building at maybe 30 MPH. I was sure that I had applied extreme pressure to the brake but could not stop the car. I was so distraught that I assumed that my foot slid off the brake onto the accelerator. As I think back I am sure that I was on the brake and not on the accelerator. If I was on the accelerator I would have had a jolt forward with extreme acceleration. It was like I was in a slow motion dream world and the Avalon was under its own control. I reported it to my insurance company as being my fault since I had no other reasonable explanation. I am now sure that the Avalon was under its own control and not mine. Updated 03/24/10
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced intermittent performance of various electrical systems. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 98V278000 (electrical system) as a possible solution to the failure, but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.....updated 02/06/17 consumer stated has no defroster for the front window. Updated 7/2/18
Suspension
Tie rods detached from frame, along with steering parts became unsafe on minor highway speed turnes
Electrical system shut down in traffic at the light, alternator was tested. Battery light stay on, lights dimmed out, lost speed. Had to get pushed out the road at a busy intersection in atlanta georgia on cleveland avenue.. Bought a second alternator, same exact incident . Once headlights are turned on at night, car looses total power. I had to drive five blocks at night without lights on ralph david abernathy blvd, atlanta georgia, even the hazard lights drained a brand new battery purchased 12/02/2018.
1998 Toyota Avalon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Toyota Avalon a good car?
Based on 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Avalon rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Avalon at the same age. It is one of the Avalon years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Toyota Avalon?
The a/c & heater — 25 complaints, 14% of all complaints for this model year, most often about appliance › air conditioner. Next are the electrical system (19) and suspension (19).
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota Avalon have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Toyota Avalon, the most recent from October 19, 1998 (control module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Avalon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 1998. See the full Toyota Avalon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Toyota Avalon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.